LSU basketball standout Angel Reese’s pursuit of trademarking her potentially lucrative nickname, “Bayou Barbie,” has hit a dead end.
Reported by Pete Nakos of On3, Reese’s trademark application for the moniker has been rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The denial cited potential confusion with Mattel’s ownership of the “Barbie” brand.
Reese’s representatives have opted not to contest the decision. Intellectual property and NIL attorney Darren Heitner explained in a statement that it was deemed “in Angel’s best interest” to avoid engaging in a legal battle with Mattel.
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“We discussed internally and determined that it was in Angel’s best interest to not unnecessarily instigate Mattel,” Heitner said. “While initially it seemed worthy to obtain the registration, Angel has pivoted away from selling Bayou Barbie merchandise. As such, the appropriate business decision was made to simply let the application abandon.”
Reese, known by the “Bayou Barbie” nickname for some time, had hoped to leverage the nickname for merchandise sales with the introduction of NIL opportunities.
Her stellar performances during the 2023 NCAA Tournament catapulted her to national fame, significantly increasing her NIL value.
Though Reese won’t be partnering with Mattel or creating “Bayou Barbie” dolls, she has a plethora of other lucrative offers on the table that are set to ensure her financial success well beyond her tenure at LSU.
